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United. (States 









A short history of the development of the 
United States Flag with rules for 
Flag Etiquette 

For the use of civilians, school children and 
foreign-born citizens 


Published by the 

JACKSONVILLE (FLORIDA) CHAPTER 

of the 

DAUGHTERS of the AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

To foster respect for the Flag and to aid 
patriotic education 




I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to 
the Republic for which it stands; one 
Nation, indivisible, with liberty and 
justice to all . 


“The Flag which we honor and under which we 
serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, 
our thought, our purpose as a Nation; it has no 
other character than that which we give it from 
generation to generation. Tho silent, it speaks 
to us - speaks to us of the past; of the men and 
women who went before us, and of the records 
they wrote upon it. ” 


Flag Day , 1917 


— IVlodrow Wilson 


JAN 21 1922 ©CLA653619 





he United States Flag has undergone many changes since its 
birth during Colonial days. 


The first Navy Flag used by Washington’s cruisers bore a green 
pine tree on a white background, with the words “An Appeal to 
Heaven.” 


Colonel Gadsden, of South Carolina, in 1775, designed the “Navy 
jack,” known as the “Rattlesnake Hag.” This had a coiled snake, 
with the words “Don’t tread on me” on a light buff ground. Later 
this was adapted from the South Carolina Navy by the Continental 
Navy, and changed into red and white bars, with a rattlesnake across 
the bars and the words “Don’t tread on me”—the rattles numbered 
thirteen. This Flag was much used by John Paul Jones. 

In 1775 Rhode Island adopted a flag with blue field, thirteen stars, 
blue anchor and the word “Hope.” This was known as the “Hope 
Flag,” and afterward as the Rhode Island emblem. 

The first Continental Army Flag was the “Grand Union Flag”— 
thirteen stripes of red and white, bearing in the corner the crosses 
of St. Andrew and St. George combined, thus signifying the hope 
that the difficulties between the Colonies and the Mother Country 
would be adjusted. This Flag was also known as the “Cambridge 
Flag,” owing to the fact that it was hoisted over General Wash¬ 
ington’s headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, January 1, 1776 
—the day the Continental Army begun its official existence. John 
Paul Jones, Captain in the Navy, had the honor of first hoisting 
this Flag over the Navy; his letter describing the event is now in 
the Library of Congress. 

In June, 1777, George Washington said: 

“We will take the stars of Heaven and the red from our Mother 
Country, separating it by white stripes—thus signifying that we have 
separated from her—which white stripes shall go down to posterity, 
representing Liberty,” and so on June 14, 1777 Congress declared 
that “the Flag of the United States must be thirteen stripes, alternate 
white and red; that the Union be thirteen stars in a blue field, rep¬ 
resenting a New Constitution, and that a new star and stripe he 


added for each new State.” Under the direction of Washington 
and his distinguished Committee, Betsy Ross made the new Flag, 
with its thirteen five-pointed stars arranged in a circle, and thirteen 
stripes of red and white. 

Finding it impossible to add a stripe for each new State, Congress, 
in 1818, passed the resolution of the Naval hero, Captain Samuel 
Chester Reed, “that the Flag of the United States be thirteen hori¬ 
zontal bars, alternate red and white, and that on the admission of 
every new State into the Union one star be added to the Union of 
the Flag; and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth day 
of July then next succeeding such admission.” 

At no time did the Flag exceed fifteen stripes. This fifteen-striped 
Flag remained the National Banner for twenty-three years; and was 
used in the war of 1812; in the battle of Lake Erie and by General 
Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. It floated over the fort at 
Fort McHenry in September, 1814, and inspired Francis Scott Key 
to write “The Star Spangled Banner.” 

The present Flag consists of thirteen stripes—seven red and six white 
*—forty-eight stars, arranged in six rows of eight stars each, on a field 
of blue. 

The “Stars and Stripes” has been carried, officially, by our land 
troops in the Mexican War of 1846, the Civil War, the several 
Indian wars, the Spanish War, the Philippine War and the World 
War. 


It is to the glory of God and Liberty that our Flag 
has never known defeat! 


The Flag l 


H ere comes the Flag! 

Hail it. 

Who dares to drag 
Or trail it ? 

Give it hurrahs— 

Three for the stars, 

Three for the bars. 

Uncover your head to it! 

The soldiers who tread to it 
Shout at the sight of it, 

The justice and right of it. 

The unsullied white of it, 

The blue and red of it, 

And tryranny’s dread of it. 

Here comes the Flag! 

Cheer it! 

Valley and crag 
Shall hear it. 

Fathers shall bless it, 

Child ren caress it, 

All shall maintain it. 

No one shall stain it. 

Cheers for the sailors that fought on the wave for it, 
Cheers for the soldiers that always were brave for it, 
Tears for the men that went down to the grave for it— 
Here comes the Flag! 


—A rthur AI ary. 


































AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN 



Sept em ber 1775. Used on Washington’s first cruisers. 



November 19, 1775. “Hope Flag** of Rhode Island. 
Note the stars on blue field. 



1776 

Continental “Navy Jack’’ adapted from the “Gadsden Flag” 
used by John Paul Jones. 



The Development of the 
States Flag 


THE PRESENT FL.sG USED DURING 
THE WO)' LD WAR 

13 stripes—7 red, 6 white, 4 ' stars, in 6 rows of 8 stars, 
on a field of blue. 

1 he “Union” or field is in the upper left-hand corner 
and is two-fifths of the lengi h of the flag; crosses seven 
stripes and ends at the lower -dge of the fourth red stripe 
from the top. Length of itire flag is one and nine- 
tenths its width, and two a d one-half times the length 
of the Union. 

"This be our motto ‘In Go h is our trust,' 

if 

And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wane 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the braue!" 



January 1, 1776 

Grand Union Flag Crosses of St. Andrew and St. George 
^England) combined with stripes. 



June 14, 1777 

Revolutionary Flag, 13 stars, five-pointed, 13 stripes. 
Designed by Washington and made by Betsy Ross. 



May 1. 1795 

15 bars and 15 stars. The Flag that inspired “The Star 
Spangled Banner” (Ft. McHenry Flag!. 


































Flag Etiqeett© amd Roles 


Congress has forbidden the use of the Flag as a trade-mark and its 
desecration or improper use in the District of Columbia. Outside 
of this, it has never passed any laws for the protection or proper use 
of the National emblem. 

Several of the States have adopted flag protection laws, but it re¬ 
mains for the Government to regulate and enforce laws that would 
strictly guard the Flag. 

Every American man, woman and child and every foreign-born citi¬ 
zen should use his best efforts to protect the Flag, and to learn the 
rules for its honor and proper use The following thirteen rules, 
simply worded, have been compiled from the best authorities for the 
use of civilians, school children and foreign-horn citizens: 

1. Whenever possible, the Flag should be displayed from a pole 
or staff. Raise Flag after sunrise, or as early as possible, and 
lower at sunset. Never allow its folds to touch the ground. It 
should float freely, and should not be allowed to remain tangled. 
Do not leave out at night, or allow to stay up during a storm. 

* * * * * * 

2. If possible do not hang against walls or buildings; in case 
this is necessary, hang flat, with union to the North or East. 
Do not hang with union down—this is a sign of distress. Al¬ 
ways hang higher than an ordinary person’s head. 

****** 

3. In using the Flag as a banner on streets running East and 
West, place the union to the North; on streets running North 
and South, place the union to the East. 

Never tie or drape the Flag. If “the colors” are wanted for dec¬ 
orating or draping, use printed red, blue and white bunting 
without stars. If a foreign-born citizen wishes to decorate with 
the flag of his nationality, he places it at the left of the United 
States Flag. 

****** 

4. In hanging the Flag from a window, suspend by the same 
edge which you attach to a pole. 

In hanging two flags together, place union (stars) to union; if 
you cross the flags, the star fields should face each other. 


5. It is proper to use the Flag as covering for a church altar; 
for a soldier’s or sailor’s casket and to unveil a monument. 
When used as an altar covering, place the field at the right as 
you face the altar—place nothing but the Bible on its folds. 
When used on a casket, place the stars at the head. 

In unveiling a monument, carry Flag aloft, and make it a dis¬ 
tinct part of the ceremony. 

* * * * * * 

6. Never use the Flag as a table cover; drapery for automo¬ 
bile; chair or seat cover—this is an insult. 

Never place anything on, above or against it except the Bible. 
Never use for a dress, or as an advertisement. 

Never print anything on it. 

Never mutilate it or step on it. 

«{» tjs 

7. In any ceremony connected with raising or lowering the 
Flag, a soldier stands at attention and gives the military salute; 
a male civilian removes his hat and holds it with his right hand 
over his left breast; women and girls stand quietly at attention; 
Boy Scouts salute with three fingers of the right hand at fore¬ 
head —all face toward the Flag. 

****** 

8. When the Flag passes in a military or civic parade stand 
uncovered at attention until it has passed you. 

When the National anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is be¬ 
ing played, apply same rules as in No. 7. 

****** 

9. In carrying the Flag in a parade, always display it at the 
right. If other banners are used, the United States Flag should 
precede or be carried in the center, above others. 

When several banners or flags are displayed on the same pole, 
the United States Flag should be hoisted first. 

“In displaying flags of other Nations during peace times, all 
flags should be on same length staff, with the United States 
Flag in the centre.” 

****** 

10. If necessary to display flag at half mast for mourning, pull 
to the top of staff; then lower to half position. When taken 
down, pull from half position to top of staff, then lower. 

****** 

11. When a Flag becomes too soiled or tattered for further use, 
destroy it by fire, as a whole, with the utmost respect. This 
should be done privately. 


12. Show your patriotism by displaying your Flag on the fol¬ 
lowing days: 

Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12th 
Washington’s Birthday, February 22nd 
Mothers’ Day, second Sunday in May 
Memorial Day, May 30th 
Flag Day, June 14th 
Independence Day, July 4th 
Armistice Day, November 11th 
* * * * * * 

13. Finally, never allow anyone to insult the Flag, or speak 
disrespectfully of it. It is your Nation’s emblem, and protects 
your Country and Home and loved ones. If you enjoy its privi¬ 
leges, you should honor and respect it, and endeavor to live by 
the principles for which it stands, for only through your good 
citizenship will it mean liberty and courage and justice to the 
World. 

«. :jc jfc 

“I believe it is my duty to my Country to 
love it; to support its Constitution; to obey 
its laws; to respect its Flag, and to defend 
it against all enemies.” 

—Walter Tyler Page . 


When Yoe Look at the United States Fla 
Yoa Should See 


Its origin in 1775 — 

The red bars dfenote our Mother Country. 

The white bars denote our Independence 
or liberty. 

The 13 bars signify the 13 original States. 

The 48 stars are the 48 States that make 
up our United States. 

The blue field is Heaven above and God 
watching over us. 

Its color meaning — 

Red signifies courage, and the blood of 
those who have died “that Liberty 
may not perish from the earth.” 

White signifies purity of desires and of 
aims for your Country. 

Blue signifies loyalty to your Flag—to your 
country—to your God. 


To the foreign-born cit- A refuge from Oppression. 


izen it should mean — 

A Democratic Government. 

The emblem of Liberty and Justice. 

A chance to make good. 

Free education for children. 


If this little book has fulfilled its mission 
with you, urge your representatives in 
Washington to quickly make laws for the 
protection of our National Emblem. 




: • , 



Compiled and copyrighted 1922 by 
MRS. THOS. P. DENHAM 
(Mary Church Simkins) 

Chairman Committee “ Correct Use of the Flag" 
109 LOMAX STREET 

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 



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' 

ARNOLD PRIHTIN6 COMPANY 


































